Compare Prices on Queen Elizabeth Mediterranean Cruises

Elegant and relaxing cruising

Sail Date:
July 2014

Destination:
Mediterranean

Embarkation:
Athens (Piraeus)

We have just had a wonderful time on the Queen Elizabeth and here are a few thoughts and tips to enjoy it as much as us.

We got a late deal fly cruise from Manchester from the ice house and the plane was aTitan Air charter. No problems apart from slow check in. Easy flight too as well as excellent transfer to port then very speedy embarkation. Inside cabin was lovely as we normally do balconies so were pleasantly surprised at space and amenities. Deck 6 was ideal, slightly aft but near the stairs and lifts. Now the specifics.......

Dining-late sitting was ideal on our table for 6. We met 2 wonderful couples and got on great, what a hoot each evening. Food was excellent but the sommelier seemed to be very stressed when we ordered wines etc. We had breakfast in there twice, room service 3 times and had a try at the lido which was quite a mad scramble for seats. Lunch at the lido was very good and seats easier to come by. So overall the food was plentiful and very More
nicely presented although the staff are not very smiling and effusive.

Entertainment- terrible what we saw, a very poor comedian, average shows and bar singers apart from the Commodore club pianist, who was very good. Bingo , quizzes as well but as we do our own thing that did not really matter. Movies were good at the theatre in the afternoon.

The captains cocktail night was very good as was the other formal night, BUT...... we were very surprised how quiet the ship was at night/evening time in all the bars etc etc. Then we realised maybe why, the price of alcohol in all the bars plus the illegal mandatory 15% gratuity on each drink. A pint was around £4.00 with some wine at £10.00 a GLASS!!! for a Marlboro Sauvignon Blanc. (retails at £6.50 in shops) However we did not let this detract from the cruise as we thoroughly enjoyed these bars and lounges and it was easy to get seats.

Ports-very nice but the ships excursions were very expensive and again we did our own thing. e.g. we went to Pompeii from Naples on our own for £30.00 all in for the 2 of us by train, great fun but watch out for pickpockets and gypsy singing groups. Santorini was beautiful but the trip up to the town from the docks was a lottery with crowded cable cars or the donkey derby up and down the stepped path. Very cruel for the donkeys, Cunard should stop docking here till the cruelty of the owners (and the fat, lazy tourists riding them) to these creatures is stopped. Send for Liz Jones I say!!

Kotorkolon was small but pretty and Bodrum very nice too. We just sat at the dock of the bay, wasting time while whistling.

Disembarking was fine and easy to negotiate as was Rome airport, so for the lateness of the booking and the price it was a fabulous holiday and thanks to Peter and Karen and Andrew and Sonia who were brilliant dinner companions.

We would definitely do Cunard again and would recommend them. It would be even better if they paid staff the living wage and stopped this tipping malarkey as well as the silly drinks pricing. It might get the social areas an atmosphere in the evenings!!! Less